In China's 5,000-year history, two dynasties are regarded as the most influential periods in Chinese history – the Qin and Han dynasties. A common feature of both dynasties is that they were both committed to promoting the great unification of the country, and they succeeded in achieving this goal. This article will explore in detail how Qin Shi Huang resolutely opposed feudalism and how the Western Han dynasty inherited and developed this philosophy.
First, let's start with Qin Shi Huang. He is known as the "First Emperor of the Ages" because of the profound influence he had on China during his reign. However, in the early years of his reign, China's political system was chaotic and fragmented. The various local kingdoms fought each other in their own ways. Under these circumstances, Qin Shi Huang made a bold and decisive decision to abolish all local kingdoms and establish a centralized empire instead.
At the heart of this reform was the introduction of the county system, in which officials were appointed directly by the emperor to manage local affairs, rather than leaving power in the hands of nobles or princes. In addition, he developed a unified system of writing, weights and measures, and money to strengthen ties between the entire country. Most importantly, he ordered the construction of the Great Wall to defend against the invasion of the northern nomads and thus ensure the security of the empire.
While these measures play an important role in China's future development, they do not come without cost. The greatest sacrifice was all the old powers that were abolished, including those who had helped Qin Shi Huang ascend to the throne. This left many people with resentment in their hearts and used this in later historical events to overthrow the rule of the Qin dynasty.
Next, let's take a look at how Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty and his successors promoted the policy of great unification. Although they appeared to be more moderate than Qin Shi Huang on the surface, in reality they were just as radical in what they did. In particular, in the military aspect, they have taken a series of measures to strengthen the defense of the frontier and prevent the invasion of foreign enemies.
For example, Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty sent Zhang Qian as an envoy to the Western Regions in an attempt to open up new commercial routes as a way to alleviate the pressure on the Central Plains. At the same time, he also gave land, gold and silver and other materials to the countries of the Western Regions in exchange for their loyalty and support. These tactics not only helped to stabilize the border areas, but also greatly expanded the Han dynasty's sphere of influence.
On the other hand, the economic and cultural development of the Western Han Dynasty also provided the soil for great innovations in Chinese history. At this stage, the invention of paper changed the way of writing and greatly improved the efficiency of information dissemination. At the same time, Confucianism also developed and became an important part of traditional Chinese culture during this period.
In general, both Qin Shi Huang and Emperor Wu of the Han Dynasty made great contributions to the realization of great unification. Their efforts have laid a solid foundation for China to become one of the most powerful civilizations in the world. However, we should also be aware that such changes are often accompanied by pain and conflict, and require a huge price to pay in order to achieve ultimate success. Therefore, in the pursuit of modernization, we should be fully aware of this issue in order to better balance the relationship between social progress and individual well-being.